Advice please - insulation and the feltless roof!

sundin13

Hi, I'd be ever so grateful for some advice.

We've just moved into a new house - built in 1914 and with no felt or membrane under the roof tiles. I've had a quote for a reslate, and it's £6000 - so not about to happen any time soon!

The very large loft space currently has a little bit of ancient, filthy insulation. From reading various posts, I understand that insulating to 270mm on the loft floor (ceiling joists) is necessary, so I'll get that done asap. My question is, as my eldest son's bedroom is alongside the loft space (with a hatch for access in his room), how can I prevent him from freezing?

Also, as the roof tiles have mortar (torching) which is slowly disintegrating, it's absolutely filthy up there. Can I cover the inside of the rafters with anything (plywood? Bubble wrap?) just so that I can use the storage without everything getting covered in thick brick dust?

Much appreciated

S13

ormus

cover the rafters with thick polythene such as visqueen. then cover with say hardboard.
using plywood would be a bit expensive.

if the sons room is alongside the loft, then insulate the loft wall too. maybe use rockwool with a chicken wire covering.

iamcornholio

To stop the dirt, get some breathable roofing membrane (about £40 a roll for 50m for the cheaper stuff) and staple it to the underside of the rafters. Don't use anything else

Regarding the bedroom, what do you mean by "alongside the loft space" - is that next to (ie in the loft) or do you mean beneath the loft?

sundin13

iamcornholio wrote: »

To stop the dirt, get some breathable roofing membrane (about £40 a roll for 50m for the cheaper stuff) and staple it to the underside of the rafters. Don't use anything else

Regarding the bedroom, what do you mean by "alongside the loft space" - is that next to (ie in the loft) or do you mean beneath the loft?

Next to the loft. So I was thinking I would have to do something with the wall - along the lines of Ormus's suggestion perhaps - then the door/hatch itself would need some insulation.